USAToday is running a front-page story today on long-shot presidential candidates. Guess who they’re featuring.
Geneva Grooters and Ruth Moorberg are ready to give Democratic presidential contender Chris Dodd a fair hearing when he speaks to the Iowa State Education Association.
If only they could figure out just who, exactly, he is.
One of a procession of Democratic candidates and their representatives addressing the state teachers’ union, Dodd is introduced on stage as a U.S. senator. But from where? “I’m figuring the East,” ventures Moorberg, 46, a fourth-grade teacher from Estherville. (Page)
The article follows Dodd closely, and is actually pretty sympathetic to him. It shows what seems to be true of Dodd’s campaign in general–namely, that Democrats like him a lot once they meet him, but aren’t yet willing to vote for him.
The article also points up some of Dodd’s media troubles.
The next afternoon, in Ames, Dodd is booked on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews to discuss what he’s dubbed “the Dodd doctrine” on foreign affairs.
Instead, the six minutes he’s on the air — time shared with Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson and conservative commentator Pat Buchanan — are devoted entirely to the firing of Don Imus. (Page)
He’s having the same trouble with media here at home–he fielded plenty of Imus-related questions during a brief appearance before media at the JJB on Friday, and few about his campaign.
The article might seem to be yet another negative turn for Dodd, but it may be the best media coverage he’s had to date. Dodd’s positive qualities, including his charm, grace and sense of humor, really shine through in the article. There’s also a compelling narrative starting to develop which casts Dodd as the plucky and stubborn long shot who has nothing to lose, and who is willing to take stands other candidates won’t. It’s a great line, and it’s one the Dodd campaign could and should do everything they can to capitalize on.
I argued a few weeks ago that Dodd’s time would be better spent in the Senate rather than on a presidential campaign which seems to be going nowhere. I still think that’s true. However, at this point I am willing to see what the Dodd campaign can do over the next couple of months. He may surprise me yet.
Source
Page, Susan. “Long shots keep hope alive.” USAToday 23 April, 2007.
6 responses so far ↓
long shot candidates? Ron Paul for President!
The Post’s Ken Dixon is an ass who deserves to be fired. I can’t believe how rude he was to our ranking United States Senator. Who the hell does Ken think he is?
I guess because he didn’t write an article kissing Dodd’s ass, he should be fired? How about because he’s not liberal? Should he be fired because he’s doesn’t ascribe to the anti-war TBCT/Crane agenda (for the record i don’t know whether he does or not but at least he doesn’t do it publicly)? Is a “ranking US Senator” above us all that we can’t be rude to him? I guess its ok that you can scream and rant and rave like idiots at Lieberman.. seriously.. TBCT, who do you think you are?
Reality–
We could have disrupted numerous Lieberman pressers. But we never did. Just ask Sean, Smith, Chuck Swirsky or Ken Daglierre, with all of whom we were very cordial.
That being said, is it too much to expect a paid columnist for a major CT newspaper to be polite, if not constructive? Dixon’s antics were abominable, and reflected very, very poorly on the Connecticut Post.
Finally, what is it with you wingnuts that you try to excuse any and all behavior on your side by pointing fingers at someone else?
Dixon’s gotta go. Not because he isn’t sympathetic to Dodd. That doesn’t matter. He can attack Dodd all he wants.
Dixon should be fired because he’s an unprofessional punk and makes the Connecticut Post look bad.
Dixon, thank you. I will start to pay attention to the Connecticut Post now! Keep up the good work!
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